State organisations and public companies need to improve IT security to prevent fraud and hacker attacks, said Pham Quoc Ban, director of the municipal Information and Communications Department.

"Information security at the units has not been given enough attention," Ban said at a conference on information security in Hanoi .

He added that State agencies need to raise information security awareness among their employees.

Statistics collected from 69 departments and People's Committee in the city show that 70 percent of public bodies have invested in internet firewalls. However, most do not use software to detect and prevent penetration of information disclosure statements (IDS) and IPS (Intrusion Prevention Systems).

The majority of firms surveyed have antivirus software that was downloaded from the internet, such as BkavHome and Symantec.

Ban also said that just four firms have invested in Storage Area Network (SAN).

Although 90 percent of firms have IT staff, few were properly trained in information security, he added.

Ngo Quang Huy, head of the Vietnam Computer Emergency Response Team (VNCERT)'s Technical Department said many ministry websites and those of State firms and online newspapers have been hacked.

He said 30 percent of State bodies are vulnerable to cyber crime.

"The units have coped with difficulties of human resources and finance in ensuring information security," Huy said. However, their websites lack the necessary security systems to prevent hacking, he added.

He said the Government plans to bring websites up to international standards by 2020.

Le Quoc Hung, head of the MIC's Department for Information and Technology Application, said better security will improve the efficiency of State organisations. "The protection could help promote e-transactions and e-government in the future," Hung said./.

TTA0610.012 Vietnamese teen in top three in pageant
Hanoi , Oct. 6 (VNA) — Eighteen-year-old Cao Hoang Yen was named second runner-up at the Miss Princess of the World contest in the Czech Republic on Oct. 1.

Carmen Isabel Hernandez Chavez from Mexico was crowned the winner while Slovakian Michaela Karakova was named first runner-up.

During the one-week contest, 41 contestants took part in talent, swimsuit and traditional costume competitions.

The annual event is held for single women between 16-23 years of age from all over the world./.